Tube-molding apparatus



Aug- 19, 1930. J. R. GAMME-:TER 1,773,138

TUBE MOLDING APPARATUS Filed July 20. 1926 jf/W1 www? Patented ug. 1.9,1.930

UNITED STATES i p u 1,173,138

:PATENT OFFICE :rOKN R. GAMMETRR, or AKRON, OHIO, AssIGNOR To THE, B. n.GOODRIOH COMPANY, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NRW YORK TUBE-MOLDING- -iiIPPARA'rUsYApplication led July 20, 1926. .Serial No. 123,659.

This invention relates to the art of making tubular articles such ashose or hose linings and its general Object is to provide improvedprocedure and apparatus for vulcanizing such articles in a flattenedcondition. More specific objects are to provide for easy mounting andremoval of the ivorl With rela-tion to the mandrel upon Which it isvulcanized and to provide a hose accurately molded in a desirableflattened form such as to facilitate the reeling of it.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section of a horizontal vulcanizerhaving mounted therein a set of hose mandrels and associated equipmentembodying and adapted to carry out my invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, the dooi` of the vulcanizerbeing removed.

Fig. 3 isa perspective view of a portion of one of the mandrels and theWork thereon.

Fig. 4; is a side view of one of the mandrels, the Work thereon andassociated apparatus, parts being sectioned and broken away.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the mandrels and theWork thereon, and a sealing clamp holding the Work against the mandrel.

Referring to the drawings, I provide a mandrel of elongated form incross-seci tion and having at least one side face 11 in- Wardly curvedor concave so that although the transverse perimeter of the mandrel maybe equal to or greater than the length of the cross-sectional innerperiphery of the tube, such as the hose or hose lining l2, to bevulcanzied thereon, the tube, bridging the concave face 11, is readilyslipped onto the man` I drel, as shown in Fig. 3. The tube is preferablymade initially of circular cross-sectional form, for convenience ofmanufacture.

The mandrel is preferably hollow, for lightness, and in such case it ispreferably provided with means to prevent passage of Y fluid through it,such as an end plug or plugs 13, 13.

hen the tube 12 is slipped to the proper position upon the mandrel oneend portion of the tube is clamped against the mandrel to seal itthereto, as by means of the clamp shown at 14, and the other end ofthemandrel and the other end of the tube thereon vare associated Withmeansfor venting the space between the tube and the mandrel as shown clearlyin Fig. 4, Where the venting ,means comprises an outwardly taperedventing. block 15 provided vwith a pair of spring clips 16, 17 adaptedto straddle the end of the mandrel to hold the block thereon. i Theblock is adapted to receive over its tapered louter face the end portion-of the tube, the

Yshown clearly in Fig. 4, and the block is traversed by `apertures 19,20 leading from the inner face of the block, within the tube,

to al socket 2l formed in the outer face of the block, in which socketis mounted an apertured plug 22 provided with a stem 23 terminating in aquick-,detachable coupling member 24; Which is adapted to mate with acoupling member 25 on the end Of one of a set of flexible vent pipes 26,26 Whichbranch from a manifold vent pipe 27 mounted in the Wall of avulcanizer 28 and communicating VWith the outer atmosphere.

rA ,number ofthe tubes or hoses being mounted fupon respective mandrelsand assembledwith the respective venting blocks 15 as described, themandrels with the Work and the blocks thereon aremounted upon a heatercar 29 and run into the vulcanizer, the` flexible pipes 26 are coupledto the respective venting blocks, the door of the vulcanizer is closed,and the tubes or hoses are vulcanized by charging the vulcanizer Withsteam.

The pressure of the steam causes each hose or tube to be bowed inwardlyinto contact With the concave face of its mandrel in which position itfits snugly about the mandrel, the

air being vented from between the hose and the mandrel, to the outeratmosphere, through the block 15 and the manifold pipe 27. After thevulcanizing operation the tubes are readily stripped from the mandrelsby reason of the cross-sectional form of the latter.

Thus the several advantages of procedure expressed in the abovestatement of objects are obtained, and a hose or tube is produced havinga natural flattened form such as to facilitate the reelin of it, theform being 5 such that one convoution of the reeled hose will nest inthe underlying one and provide a comparatively stable wound structureindependently of reel-ends and a winding fyvhich may be very, compactwithout very m lfnuch flexure of the hose from its natural orm.

if desired, by initially forming it of less crosse-sectional perimeterthan' that of the mandrel and then forcing it into the concavity of thelatter, and yet the hose may be easily mounted and removed.

invention is not wholly limited to emvPloyingg fluid pressure to depressthe hose guarita-'contact with the concave face of the mandrel, and maybe variously modified in other respects without departure from vits soe. i v

` claim:

g5 1. Tube-molding apparatus comprising an elongated, substantiallystraight mandrel of apgsroximately uniform cross-sectional form stltantially throughout its length, means forsealing to the mandrel one endof a tube mounted thereon, means for applying fluid pressure to theexterior of the tube, and ""mans for venting the space between themandrel and the tube at the other end porptpnonl of the tube. fyi-'2.Tulie molding ap aratus comprising an elongated, substantia lyV straightmandrel formed' withV a transversel concave outer face extendinglongitudinally and substantially throughout its length, a Huid-pressurel40 chamber adapted to receive the said'mandrel with "a tube thereon, ablock mounted upon the end of the mandrel and traversed ,by a

" vent aperture for venting the space between the mandrel and the tubetothe exterior of -`tliesaid chamber, and means for sealing the adiacentend of the tube to thersad block.

1 nfwitness whereof I have hereunto set my .hand this 17th day of July,1926.

1. 4 l JOHN R. GAMMETER. i

The hose may be given a transverse stretch, q Y

